RBWords

     When I was a law student many years ago, it was a standing joke to write a fake law review article with a footnote number after every word on the page because law review articles are notorious for citing case authority for almost anything said in them.  Those who write serious research papers or doctoral dissertations know the drudgery of making sure of every footnote and every item in a bibliography.  In other words, whatever is said in these matters is backed up by someone else's authority!  In Jesus' day, scribes and teachers would cite famous teachers for what was being taught: "As Rabbi Ben Ezra of.......has taught, etc."   Jesus didn't do that.  He taught on his own authority - a kind of "Because I said so...."  This required a response of faith and trust in HIS word and not in the word of some other respected teacher!

     What "authorities" do we accept in our day?  If some article or TV ad says, "Scientists have proved....." do we accept that because we accept the authority of "science?"    If the pope writes an encyclical teaching on a particular serious matter of faith and morals,  do we accept that?  Thinking about this can help us understand the reaction of Jesus' audience to his teaching.  Who are we supposed to believe?  The audience in Capernaum did not have the New Testament, only the Old Testament.  The initial disciples accepted Jesus' word and passed it on to us in the gospels.  We believe because we believe the Lord did send the Holy Spirit to inspire what they passed on to us.  That is our first "authority".   Ultimately, we judge all other authorities in the light of Jesus' word and not the other way around.  AMEN